Samuel the Lamanite warned the people. He prophesied that unless they repented they would be destroyed. The Nephites were wicked while the Lamanites were obedient, strictly observing the commandments of God (Helaman 13:1). Samuel was cast out of Zarahemla for preaching. The Nephites did not want to listen to him. He was about to return to his own land but the Lord told him to go back and prophecy of the things that should come into his heart (Helaman 13:3). Because they would not let him in the city he climbed onto the wall. He told them that if they did not repent they would be destroyed and with “heavy destruction” (Helaman 13:6). He told them that they loved their riches, and they had set their hearts on their riches and did not remember the Lord. Their hearts were not drawn out unto the Lord but they swell with pride unto boasting for all manner of iniquities (Helaman 13:20-22). Samuel told them that “if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him…you will say he is a false prophet..”(Helaman 13:26) Then he said “if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: walk after the pride of your own hearts…do whatsoever your heart desireth…ye will receive him and say he is a prophet”.
When I read this I was blown away because this is happening right now. Today we may not be literally “casting stones” (Helaman 13:24) at the prophets but we see on social media, people hating what the prophets say and then on social media mock and point fingers at the prophet and leaders and to those who do listen to the prophet and leaders of the church.
Sheri Dew said: “You don't actually have to go outside and pick up a rock. You can sit and say, "Boy, I didn't like that. I'm going to tell you I didn't like it and I'm going to tell it for all the world to see who wants to see it with the hope that maybe I can engender other people to my point of view." It's a different kind of stoning when you think about it, because you're actually trying to gather someone to your point of view and gather a bigger audience to have the same point of view”.
This reminds me of the great and spacious building in Lehi’s vision. In Nephi 8:33 it says that “great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not”.
And in Nephi’s vision 1 Nephi 11:35-36
35 And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
36 And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
We see this happening today. The adversary is pretty effective in some cases, he can deceive God’s most valiant covenant children. He convinces them to fight against, oppose and criticize those who have been given all priesthood keys, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Nephi saw that this would happen.
We need to have the courage to stand up for the gospel when the world is out there enticing us and telling us its way is better.
President Kimball said:
No comments:
Post a Comment